Berberis asiatica

Description

Asian Barberry is a much branched shrub -4 rn, with pale yellow branches, and th~ck rigid evergreen leaves with usually -5 spiny teeth, shining dark grcen above and greyish beneath. Flowers pale yellow, in somewhat flat-topped clusters shorter than the leaves, with red hairless stalks; petals obovate, notched, 5-7 rnm. Leaves ovate to elliptic. .8-7.5 cm; stem splnes - .5 cm. Fruit is glaucous, dark purple, oblong-ovoid, 8 mrn. Fruit edible. Fruit - raw or dried and used like raisins. This species is said to make the best Indian raisins. Asian Barberry is found in the Himalayas, from Uttarakhand to SW China, at altitudes of 00-500 m. Flowering: March-May.